WHAT THE WORDS MEAN

Also called DMV revocation, notice of revocation

The license revocation that follows a breath test at the limit or a refusal, which takes effect seven days after the notice unless review is asked for in writing within those seven days.

Also called ticket, notice to appear

A written notice to appear an officer may give instead of taking someone to a judge, with a court date at least two working days out for a misdemeanor and five for an infraction or violation.

Also called misdemeanor

The more serious misdemeanor class, with up to one year in jail and a fine up to $25,000.

Also called concealed carry

A weapon is concealed when it is covered so that someone looking cannot tell it is a weapon without removing or opening what covers it.

Also called shoplifting

Knowingly hiding a store's unpaid merchandise while still on the premises, meaning to deprive the store of it, and finding it hidden on someone is evidence of that.

Also called duty to inform

Stopped, detained, questioned or addressed in person by an officer for an official purpose, when a person 21 or older carrying concealed tells the officer immediately.

Also called repeated contact

Repeated acts of nonconsensual contact with the victim or a family member, the pattern stalking requires.

Also called identity theft

Alaska's name for identity theft, from assuming a false identity to using another's card or ID and damaging their credit.

Also called vandalism

Alaska's name for damaging another's property on purpose, graded by the amount, with $750 or more a felony.

Also called weapon

The term the assault law uses for an object used in a way that raises an assault to a higher degree, such as injuring someone with one, the second degree.

Also called lethal force

Force used meaning to cause, or knowing it risks causing, death or serious physical injury, allowed in self-defense only against threats the law lists.

Also called uncontested divorce

Ending a marriage on a joint petition when both spouses agree on custody, support, property and maintenance.

Also called overdose

A life threatening emergency caused by a controlled substance, for which calling for help in good faith can bar certain possession charges.

Also called driving under the influence, drunk driving, DWI

Driving, or operating an aircraft or watercraft, while under the influence of alcohol, an inhalant or a controlled substance, or with 0.08 percent or more alcohol on a test within four hours.

Also called duty to retreat, stand your ground

Deadly force is not justified if the person knows they can avoid it with complete safety by leaving, except at home, at work, protecting a child or household member, or anywhere they have a right to be.

Also called spousal share

The one-third of the augmented estate a surviving spouse may take whatever the will says.

Also called heat, water, utilities

Running water, hot water, heat, sanitary facilities and other essential services the landlord supplies, whose failure gives the tenant remedies after written notice.

Also called temporary restraining order

A protective order granted on the victim's petition without the respondent present, lasting 20 days.

Also called closed session

The part of a public meeting closed to the public, for subjects the open meetings law allows.

Also called moral turpitude

The kind of felony conviction that takes away the vote until unconditional discharge.

Also called FED, eviction case

The court case for possession of a rental, with a summons served at least two days before trial.

Also called handwritten will

A will whose signature and material portions are in the handwriting of the person making it, valid whether or not witnessed.

Also called homestead

The share of a principal residence a creditor cannot take, up to $54,000.

Also called family member, domestic relationship

Includes current and former spouses, and adults or minors who live or have lived together, the relationships that make a crime one involving domestic violence.

Also called breath test, chemical test

A person who drives in Alaska is considered to have consented to a chemical breath test after a lawful DUI arrest, and to a preliminary breath test at the scene.

Also called civil forfeiture

A separate civil case against the property itself, in which the court may order forfeiture apart from any conviction.

Also called traffic infraction, ticket

An offense under the motor vehicle title that is not a crime, cannot bring jail, and carries no right to a jury or a court appointed lawyer.

Also called who started it

Someone who started the fight, who has no claim to self-defense unless they withdrew, made it clear, and the other person kept on.

Also called loaded firearm

A firearm is loaded when a cartridge is in the chamber, magazine, clip or cylinder and that part is in or on the firearm.

Also called maximum medical improvement

The point after which temporary total disability benefits are no longer paid in a workers' compensation case.

Also called MCA, MIP

A person under 21 knowingly drinking, possessing or controlling alcohol, a violation with a $500 fine.

Also called drug charge, MICS

Alaska's name for its drug crimes, in degrees, with possessing most schedules the fifth degree, a class A misdemeanor.

Also called careless driving

Driving that creates an unjustifiable risk and actually endangers a person or property, an infraction and a lesser offense included in reckless driving.

Also called unwanted contact

Contact started or continued without consent, beyond what was agreed to, or against a stated wish that it stop, including following or appearing within sight.

Also called wear and tear

Deterioration from ordinary use, which is not damage the landlord can take from the deposit.

Also called eviction notice

The written notice that comes before an eviction case, stating the breach, any fix and deadline, and when the tenancy ends.

Also called recording consent, eavesdropping

Recording an oral conversation is barred without the consent of a party to it, so a participant can consent to their own recording.

Also called sick time

Leave every employer gives at one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 56 hours a year at 15 or more employees and 40 below.

Also called month to month, week to week

A tenancy that renews each period, ended by written notice at least 30 days before a rent due date for month to month, or 14 days for week to week.

Also called OR release, released on a promise

Release before trial on the person's promise to appear and follow the conditions, the starting point unless that will not ensure appearance or safety.

Also called bodily injury

Physical pain or an impairment of physical condition.

Also called sentencing range

The band of years a felony sentence falls in, which grows with each earlier felony, such as zero to two years for a first class C felony.

Also called primary aggressor

The person an officer finds was mainly responsible when more than one person complains of the same domestic violence incident, so the others need not be arrested.

Also called expectation of privacy

Being exposed where and when a person reasonably believed they would not be seen or pictured, which viewing or picturing is a crime.

Also called teen license, graduated license

A license for a driver 16 and under 18 after six months on an instruction permit, with limits on passengers and on driving between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

Also called refusing the breath test

Refusing the chemical test after a DUI arrest is a class A misdemeanor of its own, and its sentence runs after any other.

Also called retaliation

Raising rent, cutting services, or bringing or threatening an eviction after a tenant complained, enforced rights, or joined a tenants' union.

Also called marijuana schedule

The schedule marijuana sits in, whose possession is a crime only outside what the marijuana law allows people 21 or older.

Also called sealed record

Closing criminal justice information that resulted from mistaken identity or a false accusation, after which the person may deny the arrest, charge, conviction or sentence it shows.

Also called deposit, prepaid rent

Money held against unpaid rent and damage, capped at two months' rent where the rent is $2,000 a month or less, and kept in a trust account where practicable.

Also called comp rate

The wage figure workers' compensation pays a share of, 80 percent of it during a temporary total disability.

Also called studs

A tire with metal studs or spikes set in its surface sticking out no more than one-fourth inch, barred on paved roads for part of each year depending on latitude.

Also called next of kin decision maker

The person who makes health care decisions for an adult patient with no agent or guardian available, named by the patient or taken from a list in order.

Also called safety corridor, double fine zone

A designated stretch of road where scheduled traffic fines are doubled and headlights are required at all times.

Also called off paper

The release from every condition of a sentence, from which the 10 year count for a concealable firearm runs and after which voting rights return.

Also called noncriminal offense

A noncriminal offense punishable only by a fine, up to $500 unless its own law says otherwise, with none of the disabilities of a criminal conviction.

Also called first week

The first week of unemployment, for which credit is lost along with the next five weeks after a quit without good cause or a misconduct firing.